The acronym LGBTQ+ stands for "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning". People who identify as lesbian or gay experience sexual attraction only to the same gender. Those who identify as bisexual experience sexual attraction to more than one gender. Transgender (or trans, for short), people identify with a different gender from the one they were assigned at birth. "Queer" is an umbrella term used to describe all those who do not identify as cisgender (identifying with the gender assigned at birth), and/or heterosexual (experiencing sole attraction to people of the opposite gender) . People who are questioning often do not know what their sexuality or gender identity is. The acronym LGBTQ+ has a plus sign at the end to show that there are more identities within the community than represented by the acronym, such as intersex (being born with reproductive organs from more than 1 gender) and asexual (experiencing no sexual attraction)

June is Pride Month. Originally started in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall Uprisings, where black trans women led uprisings against unjust treatment, Pride Month has quickly spread to become a global occasion. Pride Month seeks to honor and celebrate the history, diversity and culture of the LGBTQ+ community around the world. In recent years, pride month has become more widely celebrates, and a controversial consequence of this is the rise of "corporate pride", where large corporations use June to advertise specifically to the LGBTQ+ community.

A pronoun is something that use in conversation to refer to someone. We all have pronouns, and societally they are determined by biological sex. Hence, biologically female individuals are referred to using she/her pronouns and biological males are referred to by he/him pronouns. Some people are comfortable with their assigned gender and fit into what is known as the ‘binary genders ’. They are scientifically known as cisgender individuals. Transgender people may also be comfortable with the binary genders. Some transition from one side of the binary to another.

BONUS: for more information, visit resources.inclusivityhk.com/pronouns

Being an ally is extremely important! Allyship is the idea of showing solidarity and acceptance to your friends, family, and acquaintances who are a part of the LGBT+ community. Being an ally shows that you accept and support members of the LGBT+ community, which is incredibly important, as it makes people feel safe, accepted, and free to be their authentic selves around you. Being an ally can take many forms – it's not a difficult or scary process. To be an ally, ask yourself "How can I make it clear to (person) that I support them, no matter what?" – this is a great starting point. Every relaationship is different – so this question is a great way to see how you can make your allyship specific to your relationship. An equally important aspect of allyship is what you don't do – by not using homophobic or transphobic language, slurs, or stereotypes – no matter who you're talking to!

Coming out is an important process for many queer people. this it their time to tell the world around them who they are as people, and to deviate from the "default" of being cisgender and heterosexual. Every person's coming out is different – and there's no "right" way to do it! What you need to make sure when and if you do come out is (if possible) to make sure that you're at a point in your life where you have a support system to get you through the process no matter what. There is absolutely no rush to come out. While you may feel you owe it to others to be your authentic self, you also owe it to yourself to protect your own mental and physical health. If you think that coming out will jeopardize that, it's okay to wait!

A quick note for allies: Coming out is an incredibly daunting process for many, and it can be accelerated by potentially negative reactions from friends and family. If someone comes out to you, ask them how you can best support them and if you can help them in any way to make the process easier.

Great question! If you’re looking to learn more, visit this curated page of resources that InclusivityHK organizers have created!